Is there anywhere I can listen to or acquire (or even "acquire") that album? I keep reminding myself to go back to it and it keeps slipping my mind.

Currently listening to Solstice and Pray by Solstice. Specifically, the Pray for the Sentencing reissue from earlier this year. It's a sweet relief to finally have these albums in a physical format, and better sounding than ever to boot. I know the opinion on remix/remasters is typically negative and rightfully so, but Jamie King and Divebomb Records got this one right. Louder and clearer, of course, but still with their natural rough edges. Not an artificially sterile job, just a once-over to get the dust off and the full-on remix for Pray brings out the riffs without sacrificing too much of the original mix's bassy oomph. Apparently King's done work a number of other reissues for the label as well so some digging is likely in order. You all likely know what this is but for those somehow unfamiliar, this is Rob Barrett's old band just prior to him joining Malevolent Creation in the early '90s. Ripping Floridian death/thrash that's usually mentioned in the same breath as Demolition Hammer with an ever so slight tinge of hardcore. Relatively short in the 32-35 minute range but not a second is wasted on either album.

I've always held Strid's "End of Life" in highest regards, it's a solitary gem in Scandinavian black metal with an ambiance of awe-inspiring, aloof sublimeness that was never reached again by Strid nor any other band since its original release; but I have, likewise, always neglected the eponymous EP - it seemed, in all respects, too severe a departure from "End of Life". Slowly, I am beginning to retract from this notion and to appreciate the record for its own unique style and atmosphere.

I still undeniably favour "End of Life" over the EP, though, but now I hope even more that the rumours about the release of the tentatively-titled "Endetid" album on Kyrck Productions next year will come true.

Peace Sells does not sound like any other thrash album to exist before or since... It's so different. I get the impression that even at the time, none of the band were really listening to any of their peers, or to thrash in general at all.

I should really get Pray and should probably find their newest one too, I've only been living of the S/T for ages. If you can call that living...

It's a shame that compilation reissue doesn't bring each album as a separate CD. That much along with the sound being tweaked (good or bad) kills the thought of buying it for me. I'll decide on it later on if their albums don't drop to decent prices.

As for their latest album it didn't impress me at all, a bit like Pray but even more meh. I don't think you're missing much on that one.

Hate - Erebos

I've known Hate for a long time and I had Anaclasis and Morphosis as decent Behemoth-like albums but this one is totally worshipping at the altar of Nergal. It is however much more dynamic in terms of drumming and has a sense of mid-paced groove that has eluded Behemoth's writing for the past ten years. Pretty good stuff, and dare I say better than the last two Behemoth albums.